To me, there are two or three broad ways to look at hunting and what you get out of it and why you’re there. First is obviously the “meat”. If this was your first priority, you’d have no problem using a 30.06, or any other weapon that increased your odds. Second is tradition and time with family, or just enjoying being there and doing it. Third, is in my opinion where we all get a little weirded out, and it is how we like to challenge ourselves, prove our worth as hunters, and most importantly perceive ourselves as hunters…
It is my opinion that all of us share some combination of these three basic reasons for hunting. For me, numbers two and three are more important than number one, but I do love some of the venison recipes that I’ve made and try to not be at all wasteful. But there is a unique situation that takes place around “bow only” types. It is the “I’m better than you because I decided to make it really tough on myself and you have not gotten to that point yet” thing. Problem with that is there’s always going to be a tougher way, and what does that mean? It means that we must face up to the fact that we don’t practice what we preach. If the mystical thing about the whole bow thing is the challenge, then why not go with the hardest one to shoot? Hardest to pull back, no sights, limited range, loud and so on? Well because we wouldn’t be as successful basically, right? I mean we do want a challenge and we do really want others to see how much of a challenge we’re making it, but to not come out with a deer, would be kind of, too hard? Too challenging?
The compound bow is somewhere between the traditional bows and the cross bow, as far as difficulty goes. The shotgun is somewhere between the rifle and the cross bow. The rife is somewhere between the shotgun and the grocery store meat isle. On the other end, the spear would be more challenging than the traditional bow, and a knife would be impossible, I guess…
So, all of you please raise your hands if you would hunt with a knife if it became legal in your area…

Not many hands…

Why is that? Because we all have a certain level of failure that we can tolerate when weighed against our own personal level of effort we’re willing to put forward.

One of my favorite ways to hunt is on the ground with a shotgun, stalking. My shotgun does have somewhat of a better range, but I’ve got to sneak into thick bedding areas to hunt this way, which is what I like. I’m partial to a shotgun and I’m not sure why. Maybe because I’ve practiced more with them than any other weapons, or it is just a crude open sight fire arm, I’m just not sure. But for ME being on the ground with a shotgun presents much more of a challenge than being in a tree with a bow. In fact I’d say that my shooting lanes in a tree stand with a bow are longer than any opportunities presented while sneaking on the ground with a shotgun. And our smell is on the ground, we’re moving/visually stimulating the deer and we’re making noise. Of course stalking with a bow would be more difficult, I’m not suggesting it wouldn’t be. I’ve done it, and toward the end of last year I got a small doe while on the ground with my left handed bow that I shoot right handed. I was disappointed. I’d been trying to pull that off for two years, and for some reason, it was a let down. I’m not really sure why.

Also, there is nothing wrong with buying and using something simply because you like it, and have no other reason. I like knives and I’ve bought more than I’ll ever need. Most people are this way about something. So what is wrong with liking a crossbow, even if you aren’t handicapped? Is a crossbow a little easier to shoot and hunt with, I’d have to say yes, and be willing to argue about it. But wouldn’t I be a fool to not be willing to look at it a level deeper and recognize that there are also harder ways to shoot and hunt than what I’m doing. Finally, unless you’re willing to say and believe that you are practicing the hardest hunting strategies, you have to flip the chip off of your shoulder.

Someone asked me what I thought was the best part of bow hunting. I explained it was for me; getting into the woods earlier, not wearing orange was pretty cool (hiding from humans) and no bang, like a silent killer. Then they asked what was the worst thing about it. They were a little shocked at my response; being mistakenly identified as a “bow only” type!